Police detain the son of a cocoa farmer murdered in Osun

Unknown assailants have killed a cocoa farmer identified as Bale at his farm in Ilusi Village of Osun State.

His son, Saidi, who reportedly accompanied him to the farm, it was learned, was detained by the police in connection with the crime.

Bale was said to have been beheaded on his farm on the day he was due to start harvesting his produce.

Sources in the village said the remains of the deceased were discovered at his farm on Friday even though he went missing hours before the body was found.

A resident of the village, simply identified as Sakariyau, who spoke to PUNCH Metro on Sunday, said Bale went missing last Thursday and after an intensive search through the village, his leaf-covered corpse was found on his farm the next day.

He further said: “Before he (Bale) was traced to his farm on Friday, he could not be found anywhere in the village since he left for the farm.

“When we arrived at his farm, we searched everywhere and found his remains covered in leaves. His head was cut off by unknown people.

“After this, people from the area suspecting Bale’s son, who accompanied the deceased to the farm on the day he was killed, approached him.

“He was severely beaten because people knew he went to the farm with his father to harvest cocoa. He initially denied killing the man but later admitted that he committed the crime after being severely tortured by an angry youth in the village.

“The already harvested cocoa products and the deceased’s motorcycle were found on the farm. The boy was later handed over to the police and taken to Iperindo station for further investigation.”

When contacted for confirmation, Osun Police Command spokesperson Yemisi Opalola said she was aware.

Opalola said: “The suspect was arrested on suspicion of killing the father. I have been informed about this. The investigation is ongoing.”